Ice-cream-can-w ashing- machine



Nov. 16 {1926.

I H. c. MCLEAN;

ICE CREAM CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet l w Mi?" 7/76 H. c; M LEAN ICE CREAM CAN WASHING MACHINE NOV. 18 1926; I 1

Filed March 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIN .mu *6 1 w. 18,1926. 0 ,7 H; C. M 'LE-AN m: cam cm wAsame mamas Filed Mazh 1a. 1922 e Sheets-Sheet s lllllwv. l6

H. c. M LEAN ICE CREAM CAN )NASHING MACHINE Filed March 1 922 mm, 1, 0 ,7 I H' CLEAN Nev. 1'6 1926.

H. c. 'M LEAN- ICE CREAM CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Marc n 2 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. c. MCLEAN ICE CREAM can WASHING MACHINE Filed March 18. 1922 9 Shets-Sheet v 7 eaf n5 2? he ma) 6 12 H. C. MLEAN ICE CREAM CAN WASHING MA HINE Nov. 16 was. mamas Filed March 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 m %2 7 4 w w g 1.5 $3 3 w l 66 ,7 W v 75 55 X l lov. id, 15 26.

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HARRY G. MGLEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ICE-CREAM:CANJE ASHENG MACHINE.

Application filed March 18, 1922.

This invention relates more particularly to an improved type of ice cream can wash- 1n achine adapted to automatically brush both the interior and the exterior'of an ice cream can as it is being carried through a cleaning solution on a cleaning brush into a position out of the cleaning solution, to be automatically ejected from the brush and then automatically delivered onto a conveyor in an inverted upright position to permit the brushed can to be first rinsed by sprays of hot water and then sterilized and dried by subjecting the rinsed can to steam before the clean can is discharged from the machine.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a machine for automatically washing rinsing, sterilizing and drying ice cream cans and the covers therefor.

it is also an object of the invention to provide a machine adapted to permit a can to be carried through a washing solution on a rotating traveling brush mechanism alternately through the fields of operatiouof friction mechanisms and exterior brush mechanisms to permit both the interior as well as the exterior of the can to be cleaned; 7

Another object of the invention is to construct a machine adapted to permit a can to be applied upon a rotating cylindrical: traveling brush to rotate therewith and becarried thereby into a ashing solution and into the field of operation of a friction mechanism adapted to hold the can against rota tion to permit the brush to rotate therein to clean the interior of the can after which. the can is moved out of engagement with the friction mechanism and into the field of operation of another brush mechanism adapted -1 the exterior of the can as it ro- .s w h thecarrying brush.

t is further object of this invention to rovide a can washing machine wherein a .n after being automatically washed both intcriorly and externally while being con-' veyed through a washing solution is automatically deposited upon a conveyor to be r nsed and sterilized before being discharged mom the machine.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a machine adapted to wash both the interior and outer surfaces of a can as it is conveyed through washing solution in a horizontal position into the field of opera n of an ejector adapted to discharge the washed caninto a pivotedcradle adapted t d liver the inverted pr glit ver Serial filo. 544,?05.

tical position upon a conveyor to permit the can to be rinsed and sterilized before being discharged from the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic can washing machine adapted to simultaneously convey cans and their covers through the machine in different paths to be automatically washed, rins d and sterilized before being discharged from the machine.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an automatic can washing machine having rotatable carrying brushes which cannot be started totravel through a continuous path until a can is properly engaged on a brush in loading position. I

Another object of the invention isto provide a can washing machine wherein a single operator may conveniently start the machine, feed cans and can covers thereto and operate a lever which governs the rotation of a disk having can supporting brushes rotatably engaged ther on.

.t is an important objectof. the invention to provide an automatic ice cream can wash ing machine of improved and effective construction adapted to automatically wash a largenumber of cans in a given time onboth the interior and exterior surfaces of the cans as they are conveyed through a washing solution on rotating brushes from which the washed cans are automatically removed to be rinsed and sterilized while being moved to a position to be discharged from the ma chine simultaneously with the washing rinsing and sterilizing of the can covers.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the closures in the specification and accompany ing drawings. 5

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

(in the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a can washing machine partly broken away and embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the driving end of the machine.

Figure 3 is an elevation of end of the machine.

' Figure 4 is a. longitudinal section taken on line l4 of Figure 3 showing parts in elevation. I I v e Figure 5 is a horizontal section'talren on line 5-5;0J." Figure 2.

the, feeding ilU Figure .6 is a vertical longitudinal section taken online 66 of F igure-2, with parts in elevation.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 8 -8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a plan view taken on line 1010 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail plan view taken on line 11 11 of Figure Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 1212 of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view taken on line 1313 of Figure 7.

- Figure 1% is a detail view taken on line 1et14 of Figure 6.

Figure 15lis-a detailplan. viewtakenon line Iii- 15 of Figure 7.

Figure 16. is a longitudinal vertical seotion of one of 'thebrush mechanisms taken on line 1616 of Figure 7.

Figure 17 is a cross-section of a brush taken on line'17-17 of Figure 16.

As shown on the drawings: r The reference numeral 1 indicates a frameworlrhaving rigidly fixed to the lower portion thereof a pair of channel beams 2 which project beyond one side thereof. Supported on the projecting ends of the channel beams 2 is a table or platform 3 having a driving motor 4 and a pump 5 mounted thereon. luiounted upon the framework '1 is a casing 6 having a portion recessed or cut away at 7 to permit a shelf or plate 8 to be fixed upon the upper frame members 9 with a portion of said plate projecting over the platform a. The casing 6 is closed with'the exception of the one side where a wall 10 extends up a tank forliolding a washingsolutionc wardly for only about two-thirds of the height of the casing leaving a feed and discharge opening 11,-as shown in Figure 3. The rear uprightsof the framework 1 ex tend upwardly above the top of the casing (3 and have secured to the outer sides thereof a long can and cover rinsing and sterilizing housing 12 open at both ends and supported upon brackets 13 fastened to the lower rear portion of the framework. The upper portion of the housing 12 takes care the covers while the lower portion of the housing 12 takes care of the cans. At the lower portion of theentrance end of the housing 12, an extension 1 1 is provided Secured to the upper portion of thefeeding end of the housing 12 is the curved or'elhow end of a can cover feed trough or chute 15. The other end of thechute 15 projects forwardly and is supported on a brace" or bracket 16 secured upon 'thetop" of" the;

casing 6'.v

The lower ,portioniiof the casing (3 servos-as intermedia egear: 5 1 is' ini meslr tlr pable o-fremoving grease and dirt from cans or other articles to be washed. Connected to the lower portion of the tank is one end of a pipe 17 the other end of which is connected to the pump 5. Also connected to the pump 5 is one end of a pipe 18, the upper end of which projects into the upper portion of the housing 12 and connects with a pipe 19 having a plurality of upwardly directed spaced spray nozzles 20 connected therewith. Projecting into the upper portion of the housing 12 is the upper end of a hot water pipe 21 having an upwardly directed hot water nozzle 22 on the inner end thereof. The lower end of the pipe 21 is connected to acontrol valve 23 to which a hot water supply pipe 24 is connected. Connected to the lower part of the control valve'23 is a pipe '25, the lower end of which is'connected to. a pair. ofconnected pipes 26 which. project into the lower portion of the housing the inner end thereof. The outer end of the pipe 28 is connected with a stream control valve 30 to which a steam supply pipe 31 is connected. Connected to the steam con trol valve 30 are a plurality of steam pipes 32 which project into the lower portion of the housing 1.2-and have steam spray nozzles 33 fixed on the inner ends thereof.

Fixed on the inner end of the motor shaft is a: driving pinion 34L whichis in mesh with a large gear 35 mounted on the inner end of a stub shaft 36 disposed within a bearing sleeve 37 formed. on an upright standard 38. Integrally connected to the upper end of the standard 38 is one end of a horizontal support or beam 395 the other end ofiwhich is fixed to. the housing 12. The large gear 35 is inm'esh with a drive pinion 4C0 secured on the projecting end of the pump to be operated from the driving motor at Secured on. the outer end of the stub shaft 36 is a pinion 42- which is in mesh with a gear 43. The gear 4-3iseugaged on a stub shaft 14% journalled in a bearing sleeve 45 on the's'tandard 38. Fixed on the inner end of the stub shaft let is a pinion 46 which is in driving connection'with a large gear 47. The large gear 4:? is mounted on a main brush driving shaft 48 which'has one end projecting through a. hearing sleeve 19 on the upper end of the standard 38. The other end of. the main shaft 18 projects into the casing 6 as-illustrated in Figure 6. A pinion 50 is fixed on the shaft- L8 adjacent theouterend of the bearing 19 and meshes with?aniintermediate gear 51. The gear l l. issupportedona stub shat-t 2 journalledin a; hearing ;on the horizontal beam 39.

2 use gear 58 fixed on a stub shaft 54. The stub shaft is supportedin a lJEtillllg on the beam 39 and projects inwardly to permit an eccentric wheel to be secured thereon and rotated thereby.

Pivoted on the outer margin of the cc centric wheel is one endof an eccentric rod 56, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a pin 57 between the upper ends of a pair of spaced bell cranks 58. The bell cranks 58 are rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of the hub 59 of a ratchet wheel 60 having six equidistantly spaced peripheral teeth 61, as disclosed in Figure 14. A driving pawl 62 is pivotally supported on a pin 63 between the upper arms of the bell cranks 5e and is, positioned to fall by gravity into engagement with the tooth periphery of the ratchet wheel 60. The driving pawl 62 is wider than the ratchet wheel 60 to permit the pawl at times to ride over the ends of the short arns 64!; of a pair of spaced. auxiliary bell cranks The auxiliary bell cranks 65 are rotatably mounted on the ratchet wheel hub 59 adjacent the inner surfaces of the main bell cranks 58. The bell cranks 58 and 65 are independently movable. The bell cranks are adapted to beoscillated by the eccentric 55, while the bell cranks 65 are operable by reams of the handle 73. Supportedon a pin 66 between the long arms of the auxiliary bell cranks 65 is a pawl 67 provided with a control spring 68 for holding the same in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 60. Secured on one end of the pin 66 is one end of a link 69, to the other end of which one end of a lever 70 is pivotally connected. The lever 70 is fixed on one end of a shaft 71 which projects into the casing 6 and is rotatably supported in bearing brackets 72 fastened to the inner surface of the front wall of the casing. A starting lever 73 is fixedon the inner end of the shaft 71 within the casing 6. Fixed on the machine frame 1 is a rigid bar or shaft 191 having pivoted on the outer end thereof a stop pawl 192 held in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 60 by a spring 193 to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel and the brush support gear box tG-l 1.

The hub 59 of the ratchet wheel 60 is keyed or otherwise secured upon a sleeve which is rotatably engaged on the shaft 48 and pro ects through a frame bearing 7 5 into the casing 6. integrally formed on the inner end otthe sleeve T52 is a circular disk or plate 2'6, to which a cover plate '4'"? is rigidly secured. The plate 76 and thecove'r '57 form a rotatable gear casing or box within the casing 6. Formed on the gear box cover 7? is a projecting sleeve 78 into which the shaft 48 projects. Also projecting into and keyed to the sleeve 78 is the inner end gear arrangement.

sleeve secured to the box cover 76-77 is a large gear 1 having. a plura ty driven thereby and forming a planetary Tn the arrangement shown, there are six small gears 82which are respectively secured on the inner end six brush shafts 83 which project through the gear boX coverfZT as'illustrated in Fig ure 16. V 7

Each brush shaft 83 projects intothe casing 6 through bearing collars 8% supported at spaced intervals within a supporting Elecured on each brush shaft 83 beyond the sleeve 85 are triangular blocks 86 upon which a cylindrical brush core 87 is se cured. The brush core comprises a plurality of brush block members engaged around the sleeve 85 and secured to the blocks 86 by screws or other suitable means. Flexible brush bristles are secured to, the outer surfaces of the brusn core to form a cylindrical brush 88. with bristles at the closed 'boX 76-77 carries six interior can brushes upon which. cans to be cleaned are adapted to be engaged as hereinafter described. Referring now to Figure 7, A is the can loading position, B are the can brushing positions, and C is the can ejecting position.

Engaged on the shaft 79 between the casing wall 10 and the outer ends of the brushes 88 is a slidable collar 89 on which a disk 90 isformed (Figures 6 and Y The disk 90 has a segment thereof cut away along a cord 91. The margin of the disk along the cord 91 is bent outwardly to an inclined fiange'or apron 92. The disk 90 is provided with a curved opening 98 through which pins or stubshafts project. The stub shafts 9 are secured on the inner surface ofthe casing wall 10 and pie 'ject through apertures in a plate 95 posi tioned on the collar 89 and see red to the inner surface of the disk- 90. The plate is provided with an integral curved flange 96 and a straight flange 97. The curved flange 96 affords a guide on which the cams may roll. Coiled springs 98 are engaged around the stub shafts 94 between the easing wall 10 and the plate to resiliently hold said disk 90 against the can bottoms. Cotter pins 90 are engaged through the ends of the stub shafts 9i and act as stops for limiting the inward'movement of the plate 95 andthe disk 90. The stub shafts as act to hold the disk 90 and the plate 95 against rotation with shaft 7 9. The plate 95 and disk 90 are resiliently held by the springs 98 against thecotter pins 98 and arm 115.

in Figure 1.

afforda means for holding cans in place on the brushes 88.

Mounted in the casing 6 at each B brush position. is a pair of brackets or arms 99 supporting a rotatable shaft 100. Fixed on the middle of the shaft 100 is a lever 101 having a coiled spring 102 connected to the end thereof. The spring. 102 is also connectedto the casing 6 or to any suitable stationary member therein. f Fixed on the ends of the shaft 100 to the inside of the bracket arms 99 are two levers 103 having pivotally supported therebetween a friction block or pad 104. Connected to the friction block. 104 is one end of a coiled spring 105, the other end of which is connected to the lever 101. The springs 102 and 105 act to hold the friction block adjacent the peripheral surface of a brush 88 as illustrated in Figure 7.. p

An exterior can brushing mechanism is also provided at each of the first thre B positions and "comprises a pair of brac -tet arms 106 permanently secured tothe inte rior of the casing or on permanent channel supports 107 mounted therein. The bracket arms 106 support a rotatable shaft 108 havinga short lever 109 fixed to the middle thereof. Connected to. the short lever 109 is one end of a coiled spring 110, the other end of which is connected to the interior of the casing 6. Secured to the shaft 108 to the inside of the bracket arms 106 are a pair of. brush arms 111 at an angle to the short lever 109. Connecting the outer ends of the brush arms 111 is a long bristle brush 112 held in the path of the traveling brushes 88 by the spring 110.

Supported by the lower ends of the bell cranks 58 is a pin 113 which projects through a vertical slot 114 formed in an The lower end of the arm 115 is rigidly secured to a horizontal rack 116 which is slidably supported by brackets 117 to slide transversely of the machine. Meshing with the reciprocating rack 116 is apinion 1.18 which is fixed on a long vertical rod or shaft 119 journalled in bearings 120 secured to the machine frame 1. Fixed on the upperend of the vertical shaft 119 isa gear'121 which mesheswith a discharge or ejector rack 122. The rack 122 is slidably mounted to reciprocate in guide brackets 123 secured upon the plate 8 as illustrated One end of the rack 122 has an extension bar 124 which sildably projects through an opening in the casing wall at 125. The rack extension bar 124 projects into the casing 1 above the. can ejecting po sition Cand'has pivoted thereon a pair of spaced bell cranks 126. Connecting the two bell cranks 126, is a guide plate 127 one end' of which is bent to. form a hook 128 terminating in ianiinclined flange 129 as shown .13 'Fi xdigunithe inner end of the rack extension bar 124 are castshaft 134, the ends of which are journalled in a bracket mounted on themachine frame. The pin on 133 1s also; in mesh with a longitudinally reciprocating rack 136 slidable in brackets 137 secured to the machine frame. F astened to the rack 136 is an up right arm 138 for operating mechanisms positioned within the housing 12 as hereinafter described. Operated by the rack 136 a pinion 139 which is fixed on a vertical shaft 140 journalled in supporting bearings 41 secured to the machine frame and shown in Figure 3. The pinion 139 is also in mesh with a horizontal transversely slidable rack 142 supported in guide brackets 143 mount-- ed on the machine frame. Fixed on the rack 142 is a downwardly pro ecting arm 144 having a slot 145 therein. Pro ecting through the slot 145 is a pin 146 supported 1 on the lower end .of, a bell crank lever 147 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends noon the machine frame on a in 148. Fixed on the upper end of the bell crank lever 147 is a curved receiving scoop or tray 149. Secured to the casing wall 10 at the position C is a stationary can receivin-g tray 150 having a deflected mouth piece 151 at the inner end thereof.

When the lever 147 is in a lowered positionas illustrated in Figure 3, the tray-149 is tipped to permit a cleaned can thereon to roll therefrom onto a cradle 152 adapted when in a receiving position to seat on cross members of the housing extens on 14. P1votally attached to the bottom of the cradle 152 is the outer end of a bent arm 153,'the inner end of which is fixed on a rod or shaft 154. The shaft 1.54 is disposed transversely of the lower intake end-of the housing 12 and is journalled in supports or hearing members 155 secured upon the bottom of the housing 12,as shown in Figures 4 and9. The shaft 154 projects through an aperture in the inner wall of the housing 12 and has secured on the proj ecting end thereof a levelor link 156. Pivoted to the other end 'ofthe lever 156 is one end of a link 157, the other end of which ispivotally. connected to the upper end of the upright arm 138. The arm 138' is adapted to be actuated by means of the reciprocating rack 136. Also pivoted on thcarm 138 is one end of a link 158.,the 7 other end ofwhich is pivotally connected till the. lower, end of "a deflectedlever or: beam surface ofthe can bottom. With the can thusiproperly engaged on the brush, the can l and brush will rotate together.

cranks 58 back and forth. The pin v113 car ried by the bell cranks '58 acting in the slotted arm 115 causes the racklio to reciprocate. In the lowered position oi the control lever??? shown in Figure 3,.the 3Qll cranks 65 are positioned as illustrated in Figure let. it will thus be noted that as the upper arms 7 oi the bell cranks 58 arezpul'led toward the eccentric wheel that the pawl 62'will ride up onto the curved ends 0t the'sh'ort arms 64: of the bell cranks 65. Theipawl 62'is thereby held from dropping by gravity behind the next tooth or the ratchet wheel 60. The ratchet wheel thus remains stationary.

To cause the can. and brush in position A to' advance'into the first position B, the operator swings the control lever 73 upwardly from the position shown in Figures 3 and 7. The shaft 71 is thereby partially rotated to swing the lever upwardly from ,the position illustrated in Figure 1d. Upward movement of the-lever 70 actuates the linlr69 thereby causing the bell cranks '65 to ratchet tooth.

' swing or partially rotate to lift the pawl 67 toenga-ge behind the next tooth and move the short bell crank arms 64;, toward the eccentric wheel 55 and away from the ratchet Wheel tooth previously protected thereby. The pawl 67 prevents the bell crank 6564@ from moving back into the position illustrated in Figure 14. The next half revolution of the eccentric wheel 55 will now draw the 'pawl 62 into a position to engage behind the next With the completion ofthe revolution of the eccentric wheel 55 the upper arms of the bell cranks 58 are moved away from theeecentric wheel, thereby causing the pawl 62 to advance the ratchet wheel 60 one-sixth of a revolution. As this is done, the pawl 67 follows the rotation of the ratchet wheel and the lever 'Z'O'and the con trol lever 73 falls back into normal position by gravity ready for the next operation.

A sixth rotation of the ratchet wheel 60 thus causes the gearbox 76'77 to be rotated one-sixth of a revolution, thus advancing the can and its supporting brush from position A to the first position 3.

As the can approaches the first position B, it moves into frictional contact with the flange 96 of the plate and also into frictional engagement with the spring controlled pivoted block 10% The friction be tween the brush 88 and the can is less than the friction between the can and the friction block 1041 and the flange 96. The can therefore held against rotation while the brush within the can continues to rotate thereby brush ng or cleaning the inteiion surfaces of the can.

A second can is now placed upon the brush just'advanced into position A and the. can cover is placed in the chute 15 pushing the first cover further in. The control lever is again operated thereby causing the box 76-77 to again rotate a sixth oi a revolution. The first can in the first position B terior oi" the can and the flange 96 and the brush 112.. The can is'thusagain rotated with the brush 88 thereby permitting the re-- siliently supported eXterior brush 112 to brush or sweep the exteriorsurttace of the can.

'As the can mergedinto a cleaning solution, which will permit the can to be thoroughly scrubbed both inside and out by the bleaning brushes. With each operation of the lever 73 the can is moved from one B position to another,

thereby being alternately scrubbed *interiorly andexteri'orly a number of times before the can leaves the cleaningsolutionand is advanced from the last Bp'osition out 2? tl'1e"cleaning solution into the'position u It willbe=notedthat arplurality of ice cream cans may be washed simultaneously and that it is necessary to manually operate the control lever 73 each time it'is desired toca'use the brush carrying cans to advance from one position into another. ttention is also directed to the fact that the control lever 73 is so positioned that the-same cannot be swung upwardly past the bottom of a can on the brush in position A unless the can is'properly engaged on said brush. This arrangementtherefore prevents accidents' and insures proper positioning of the cans on' the carrying brushes 88. V As a can is advanced from the last B position into *positionhC, it moves'under the springcontrolled-ejector plate 127 when in the retract-ed position-illuetratedin Figure 1. The hookj128 of theejector plate 127 is thus engage-d back of the open edge of the cleaned can. It will be'remembered that the rack 116 is reciprocatedwhen the motor is operating "so that the pinion 118 in mesh with therack is alternately rotated in opposite directions. Since the pinion 118 is lined is lowered or advanced through the casing-1t 1S gradually sub-- on the upright shaft 119, said shaft andthe ear 121 on'the upper end thereof are also alternately rotated in opposite directions. The upper discharge rack 122 is thus reciprocated and asa cleaned can is moved into the position C? in engagement with the ejector plate hook 128, the discharge rack 122 is advanced from the retracted position shown in Figure 1 toward the open or feeding end of the casing 6. The hook 128 thus acts to push the cleaned can off of the brush 88 over the-stationary tray 150 and into the tray 1 19 which comes into position adjacent the stationary tray150 at this stage of the operation. The inclined flange 151 on the stationary tray 150 permitsa can being discharged to slide upon said tray 150, which serves as a stay or support for the partly ejected canv until the tray 149 reaches a re ceiving position.

The rack 1 12 which. causes swinging'ot the tray leverld? about the pivot pin 148, is r-eciprocated by the action of the pinion 139 and the gear rack 136. The gear rack is operated by the pinion 133 which is inmesh with the reciprocating rack 116. As soon as a cleaned can is discharged into the tray 1 19, the can discharge mechanism is retracted over the brush 88 in. position C. The inclined flange plate 129 is provided to permit the discharge plate 127 and the hook 128 to ride over the brush without injury thereto, or up over a can on saidbrush it for some reason the can is not properly ejected.

hen the lever 73 is again operated to cause the brush 88 in position C to be 'advanced into position A, the rack 142 is moved into the position shown inFigure 3, thereby causing the upper end of lever 147 to swing rearwardly or downwardly into a position to permit he can in the tray 14-9 to roll into the cradle 152 seated upon the ex tension 1 1 of the housing 12. I When a can is deposited into the cradle 152, the rack'136 is in the position illustrated in Figure 41. The rack 136 is reciprocated due to the alternate rotation of the pinion 133 by the rack 116. As the rack 136 moves inwardly from the position shown in Figure 1. the upright arm 138 fixed thereon is also moved inwardly, thereby causing o izeration ot the links 156 and 157 to partially rotate the shaft 154. The bent arm 153 is thus swung upwardly about the shaft 15d thereby elevating the can carrying cradle 152. The arm 103 is connected to the bottom oi the cradle nearer the outer end thereof thereby permitting the inner end or" the cradle to tip downwardly as the cradle is elevated. When the cradle is sufliciently inclined, the can thereon will slide down-. wardly until the open end engages the guide apron 188. The cradle 152 continues to swing upwardly until the upper end said cradle to swing inwardly thereby push- 7 'ing the can onto the guide grate. The lower end of the inverted can is thus positioned on the guide grate formed by the members 17 and 174 to permit the first pair of upwardly projecting pegs 172 to engage in back or 7 to the outside'of the inverted can, thereby acting to push thevcan over the guide grate. The continued inward -movement of the rack-136 causes the bar 163 secured on the upright arm 138 to-slide the feeding frame formed by the members 167 and 169 inwardly over the guide rails 168. Since the stop pins 171 track on the horizontal flanges cfthe angle bars 168, the pegs 172 are pre vented from swinging outwardly and ac cordingiy continue to advance the same,

through the housing 12 over the grate. The

outward movement otthe rack 136 returns the cradle to'its position upon the housing extension 1% and also moves the slidable feeding-"frame back into normal position. As this is done, the upright pegs 172 are trippedwhen they come in contact with a can thereby permitting a can to, stand upon the guidegrate until the next operation.

s of cans atterf eing washed are thus successively delivered in an inverted position upon the guide tray and are intermittently advanced over said guide toward the discharge end of the housing 12. 109 Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that as the inverted cans are advanced over the guide tray t-hey first pass over the nozzles 27 from which hot water is sprayed upwardly into and around thee-ans to ther oughly rinse the scrubbed cans. lifter be ing rinsed the inverted cans are adv ed over the steam jets or ncsz .s 33 sterilized. by the steam issung tro nozzles 1611 a washed can has been and sterilized as described p l 1 the end of the housing 12 and is The can, thoroughly cleaneth rins lined when discha "'h" ing 12. may be manna be discharged into a suitable ch 1: or upoii a conveyor tobc ClS'llVQlGtl to a desired point. hi .i'tion has been made elf the fact ti" just previous to the time that adirtv can is placet upon a brush 88 in position it that the cover of said can is placed in the inlet chute 15. As additional covers are deposit ed in said chute 15, the covers previously placec therein are .ally pushed iii wardly toward the intake end of the ho ing12. The can covers are thus intermittently ted onto the upper guide tray 1'i5 17? into the field ot'operation of the feed 1855 which mounted on the reeiprd eating teed frame formed by the members is actuated'by means of the swinging'arm 159 pivoted at160 and connected to beactuated by the reciprocating rack 136. cover is moved into the field of operation or the first peg 185, the peg is tripped when the feed frame moves toward the -chute 16 to permit the-pegto project up into the cover. Upon the inward movement of the cover tieed frame, the peg 185 withinthe cover is prevented from tipping forwardly by the pins 183. A cover is thus intermittently advanced bythe pegs 185 over the upper guide grate. As a cover is advanced throughthe housing 12, it is first passed over the nozzles 20 through which a cleaning solution from the casing 10 is forced by the action of the pump 5' operated-by the motor l. The cleaning solution is thus sprayed against the can cover .toWash the same. With the advance ot a cover over the upper guide grate, said cover ai'ter being' w-ashed is moved into a position over thenozzle 22 which acts to spray clean hot water against the cover to thoroughly rinse the same. After a-washed cover has been rinsed, it is'a'dvanced to a posit-ion over the steam nozzle 29 to besterilized by the steam issuing from said nozzle. After; the sterilizving or a washed cover, the same is pushed from the upper guide tray and is discharged from the discharge end of the housing 12-.

The cleaned can covers when. discharged may be deposited in a suitable delivery chute or upon conveyor to be delivered to a desired point.

The cleaning solution, hot water and condensed steam usedin the housing- 12 on the can covers are permitted'to be drained from the upper portion of the housing over the floor 190 back into the casingti by means of a drain pipe or other suitable means.

' From the description hereinbefore given, it will be noted that aplurality of ice cream cans and the covers thereof are adapted to be automatically washed, rinse:l and sterilized before being discharged from the machine. \Vl1ile in the present showing of the n'iachine, SlX can carrying brushes 88 are.

disclosed, it will, of course, be understood that the machine maybe arranged to take care of aless or greater number of can carrying brushes as desired. The can carrying brushes 88 are continuously rotated when the motor is in operation, but are only advanced through the various positions A, B and C in the casing 6 when the control lever 7-3 is moved into an elevated position. The return of the control lever 73 after each operation thereof is automatic so that an operator after aising the lever may give his attention to feeding the next can and its cover into the machine. A large number of canswand covers maybe thOr-l As a.

rgeomes ough'lyccleaned and sterilized by'theimproved machinewithout requiring an operatorshandsutocome :into contact with the cleaning solution. It will-be understood that: any ldesiredmixture suitable for thoroughly cleaning the cans andicovers may be .used in thentankb.

:If desired, the cans atter being sterilized may be sub ected to a hot/lair blast and dried belore being dis charged fromthe housing 12.

Even. though. the machine" constructedto. ha'ndlea plurality of cans'an'd covers simultaneously, 'a single can and cover may be advanced through the machine. To

start the feeding of the can covers through The machine is adapted to cleaner scrub both the interior and exterior surfaces'oi cans asia can is being advanced through the machine on brushes which act to -scrub the interior surfaces of the cans.

side-and on the-outside due to the'a-rrangement of the cleaning brushes andthe trio 7 Each can is repeatedly scrub-bed alternately on the -intion mechanism through the-fields of operation of which the cans travel.

' It'will, 01 course, beunderstood that contamers other than-ice cream cans and covers may be automatically Washed, rinsed and sterilized by the machine, and that various changes may be made in construction to adapt the machine to handle-containers of different shapes than ice cream cans and still be Within the scope of this invention.

1' am also aware that numerous other details in construction maybe varied through H-W1Cl6 range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than'necessitated by the prior art. I claim as my invention: 1.-A can washing machine comprising a casing, a rotatable support therein, can carrying brushes on said rotatable support,

means'i'or rotating said brushes, a pawl and ratchetmechanism for rotating said support step by step, and an eccentric m'echa nisnr connected to drive the pawl and ratchet mechanism, said brushes and the driving means therefor having two movements, one ofdisplacement and the other axially rotary. 3 2. A can washing machine comprising a casing, a rotatable support therein, can can rying brushes supported on said support, gear mechanisms insaid support connected with said brushes, means for rotating said gear mechanism to cause axial rotation of the brushes," means for causing said support to rotate'to advance t'he'brushes through the casing, an eccentric'device connected with;

said last mentioned means to operate the same step by step, and motor driven gear mechanisms for driving the eccentric device.

3. A can washing machine comprising a casing containing a washing solution, a box supported therein, a plurality of can carrying brushes rotatably supported on said box, small gears in said box connected with said brushes, a large gear in said box meshing with all of said small gears, means for driving said large gear to cause rotation of the small gears and axial rotation of said brushes, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connected with the box for rotating the same to displace the brushes while axially rotating through the washing solution, an eccentric means connected to drive the pawl and ratchet mechanism, gear mea-nsfor driving the eccentric means, and a motor for operating the gear means.

4. A can washing machine comprising a casing for containing a washing solution, a gear box rotatably sup orted within the easmg, can carrymg brus es supported on said box, small gears in said, box connected with said brushes, a large gear in said box meshing with said small gears, means for driving the large gear to cause axial rotation of said brushes, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connected with the box for rotating the same to advance the brushes through the washing solution, a manual control therefor, and an eccentric mechanism operated by said means for operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism.

5. A can Washing machine comprising a casing for containing a washing solution, a gear box rotatably supported therein,rcan carrying brushes supported on said box, gears in said box connected with said brushes, means for driving said gears to cause rotation of said brushes, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connected with the box for rotating the same to advance the brushes through the washing solution, an eccentric mechanism driven by said means connected to drive the pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a manually operated device for controlling the operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism by said eccentric mechanism.

6. A can washing machine comprising a casing for containing a washing solution, a gear box therein, can carrying brushes supported on the gear box, gears in said box connected with said brushes, means for driving said gears to cause rotation of said brushes and the cans thereon, a pawl and ratchet mechanism connected with the box for rotating the same to advancethe brushes and cans through the Washing solution, an eccentric mechanism driven by said means connected to drive the pawl and ratchetmechanism, a device for controlling the operation of said pawl and ratchet mechanism, friction mechanisms in said casing for holding the cans against rotation'to permit the rotating brushes to rotate with respect to the cans to clean the interior surfaces of the cans, and exterior brushes in said casing adapt-ed to clean the exteriorsufiaces of the cans when said cans move, out of engagen'ient with said friction mechanisms.

7. A can washing machine comprising a casing. can carrying brushes rotatably supported therein, m-eans for rotating and advancing the brushes through the casing, mechanisms in the casing for holding the cans against rotation to permit the rotating brushes to clean the interior of the cans, and

pivotally supported brushes mounted in said casing adapted to clean the exterior of said cans when the cans are released by said mechanisms and rotate with the'carrying brushes.

8. A can washing machine comprising can carrying brushes, means for rotating and at vancing the brushes, friction devices for holding the cans stationary with respect to said brushes to permit said brushes to rotate in said cans to clean the interior of said cans, and meansfor cleaning the exterior of said cans when the cans are moved out of the field of operationof said friction devices and rotate with said brushes.

9. A can washing machine comprising can carrying brushes, mechanisms .for rotating the brushes and intermittently advancing the same while rotating, mechanisms for engaging the cans to hold the same against rotation to permit the brushes to, rotate therein to clean the interiorof the cans, and spring controlled brushes disposed in the path of advance of said cans to clean the exterior of the cans when thecans rotate with the carrying brushes.

I 10. A can washing machine 1 comprising can carrying brushes, mechanisms for rotating the brushes and advancing the same while rotating, spring controlled means for holding the cans on said brushes, devices for resiliently engaging the cans to hold the same against rotation to permit the brushes to rota to therein to clean the interior of the cans, and spring controlled pivotally mounted brushes disposedin the path of advance of said cans to clean the exterior of the cans when the cans move out of the field of opercan carrying brushes, a mechanism for rotatin'g said brushes and the cans thereonnneans for conveying said brushes and cans through a circular path, friction machanisins disposed on opposite sides of the path of said brushes to hold said cans against rotation, and cleaning means disposed in the path 0%- s'aid' brushes. e

13. In a can cleaning machine the coii-ibi'- nation with a-rotatable device, of shafts rot'atably supported thereon; brushes secured on said shafts to rotate thereivif i, said brushesadapted to have cans engaged thereon, friction mechanisms positioned to engage said cans to hold the same agai'mst rotation to permit saidfrotating brushes to clean the interior of said cans, and spring controlled pivoted brushes adapted 'to brush the exterior of said cans when out of contact with said friction mec'l'ianism's' 14. In a can 'c'leaning inachinethe combination with a rotatable device, can'car'rying nation with a rotatable device, brushes 1'0- tatably supportedthereo-n and carried thereby through a path, said brushes adapted to have cans manually engaged thereon ataparticularposition in said path, alternately arranged mechanisms disposed along the path of said brushes to permlt the cans tobe Cleaned both interior-1y and exter orly, and

ejector mechanisms positioned at a predetermined point in said path to automatically discharge cleaned cans from said brushes.

16."A can cleaning machine comprising a casingfe'ont'aining a washing soluti 'on, a 1'0' tatable device iii-said casing, rotatablecan carrying members on said device, mechanisms disposed in the path of said carrying members to cause said cans to be Washed 1nteriorly and exteri'orly as they are conveyed through said washing solution, a mechanism for automatically ejecting the Washed cans from said members, a housing; a guide grate therein, means for receivln'g the discharged cans and delivering the same upon said guide grate, a reciprocating device in said housii'i'g for advancing the cans over said grate, means in said housing for rinsing said cans, and means in said housing for steriliz ing the rinsed ci'in's.

17. In a can washing machine, a casing containing a. Washing solution, mechanisms therein for conveying cans through said Washing solution,- a plurality of cleaning scrubbing of the eiiteriorfot nation vs 'ith means for carrying cans't 1 interior and exterior surfaces ot the cans, a

l1011Si1Tg,' a cradle mechanism.thereon,an

said housing for rinsing the cans, and a mechanismi'or sterilizifng the '1'" ised can 18. A can washing machine comprlsi casing containing a washing solution, i schanisnis Within thecasing "tor a tel 'a'tel scrubbing the interior and exterior su'r of cans; a housingatdjacent the I cradle mechanism thereon, means for e'ct-j ing the scrubbed cans iroins'aid casing re: ciproc ating. means for 'vre'ceiving the discharged cans and deliv ringthe'saine to said cradle mechanism, drift means for-actuat ing the cradle "median m to cause the settle to deliver the scrubbed cans into said ho'ii ing, a lower g'iiide grate in said housing for supporting the cans, an upper guide g ate in said housing for i-cceivingtheran-covers, an upper feed device in said housing for ad'- vancing the can covers through the housing over the upper 'te; a lower feed devieejin said housing for advancing the cans through the housing over the lower grate means can necting boththe 'i'i pper and the "loWerfeed devices With the driving means, means'in .said'housin'g for"washinggihe can covers,

'niecl'ianisms in said housing fcirinsing the cans and the can covers asfthey'are advanced through the housing; hnd'ineans'in id housing for sterilizing the riiis'ed cans and overs before they are housing. 19. In a can Washing machine the co'm-' bination with a casing c'oi taining a \vashing solution, rotary brush means for supporting and conveying cans through said solution, and a pluralit ofpivcte'd friction and brush mechanisms in the casing foriiltern'ately 'en-f gagin'g the cans for causin ;scrubbin of the interior of the cans by said brush means and the cans by said brush mechanisms. I

20. In a can iiashingn'iuchine the com-ht nation with mechanisms;for automatically washing the interior and e-"te1-ier o i"rcans, of a conveyor device, a plnr 'ty of p receiving means for trans-m ."iing the iv cans to said conveyor dtwiee,"ancl means'for rinsing and sterilizing the eans as they are moved along by the eonx evei'deviceg i 21. In a can washing mug-h a wasl nng-solutro'm of mechanisms-for automati'cally scrubbing the interior and exterior mechanisms in said casingfor scrubbing thesurfaces of the cans; a support, mechanisms discharged ir'oiii the ice 

